- Here, the newbie has the tree cut to the appropriate height for extraction.
- IMG_0816.jpg (161.82 KiB) Viewed 970 times
- After cutting around the tree (about 10 inches around the base of the tree), the next step is to push and pull the tree until you hear the roots pop free.
- IMG_0818.jpg (165.56 KiB) Viewed 970 times
- The tree needs to be worked from different angles to get it out of the muck.
- IMG_0819.jpg (129.47 KiB) Viewed 970 times
- The base of the tree. Note the number of fine roots at the base of the tree. It's the thicker, numerous, tap roots that are popped by the rocking method. At this point, the extracted tree has a root ball. Using a saw, the roots are cut from a ball shape to a disk shape about 5 inches thick. This removes a great deal of weight from the tree. See next photo for why!
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- This rule is simple: If you cut it, you need to haul it out. For that reason, we leave the trunk long so we can more easily balance our hauls on our shoulders. Here you can see that the tree's roots havebeen cleaned up.
At this point, we're on our way out of the swamp. I use a GPS to mark the location of each dug tree. We put the extracted trees back into the dig hole and string pink surveyor's tape on neighboring trees to help us find it. (Yes, we haul our trash back out of the swamp) - IMG_0826.jpg (149.67 KiB) Viewed 970 times
- I made the newbie pull his tree using the old-fashioned push and pull method. Why? I wanted him to appreciate the winch we would use on the remainder of the trees. That, and I wanted him to earn his "Swamp Creds" in the club.
In this photo I'm using a hand puller winch with nylon ropes to pull the tree free as I cut. This allows for a much quicker extraction. Newbie took 20 minutes to extract his tree. I took the same amount of time, but I was only cutting for about 10, the rest was setting up the ropes. - IMG_0815.jpg (138.61 KiB) Viewed 970 times
- It was 35 degrees in the swamp when we started. It's Winter and there is no wildlife to bother us; mammal, reptilian, or insect. There is something wonderful about being in the swamp at this time of year. Or, I'm just crazy.
We pulled 5 trees from the swamp this year. We had to use a GPS and pink surveyor's tape to re-find our extracted trees. Once you've gone 150 feet away, you can't see where you've been; even with the pink ribbons strung about your last tree. Getting out of the swamp is easy with the GPS. I just orient myself along the route into the swamp, and back track. - IMG_0821.jpg (176.49 KiB) Viewed 970 times
If you would like to know more about the extraction method, a checklist of supplies, and how the hand winch increases the size of the haul with a fraction of the effort, check out the articles written at our website.
Collecting Local Cypress
Collecting Local Cypress: Supply Checklist
Collecting Giant Cypress: Larger, Faster, and Easier
